Distribution system for shoe factories or the like



P. MATTLER Aug. 27, 1935.

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR SHOE FACTORIES OR THE LIKE Filed May 5, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 27, 1935. P. MATTLER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR SHOE FACTORIES OR THE LIKE Filed May 5, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGB.

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DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR SHOE FACTORIES OR THE LIKE Patented Aug. 27, 1935 PATENT OFFICE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR SHOE FACTOBIES OR THE LIKE Peter Mattler, St. Louis, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Lamson Company, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 5, 1933, Serial No. 669,498

8 Claims. (Cl. 198-38) This invention relates to distribution systems for shoe factories, and with regard to certain more specific features, to selective distributing and elevating systems for such factories.

This invention is an improvement upon that disclosed in United States patent application of Myron 0. Frost and myself, Serial Number 618,251, for Distribution system for shoe factories, filed June 20, 1932; and in the divisional application thereof, Serial Number 642,915, filed November 16, 1932, also for Distribution system for shoe factories.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a selective distribution system for shoe factories wherein work elements may be placed in a carrier, elevated and placed upon a conveyor for distribution to selected points; the provision of apparatus of the class described wherein a given operator may determine the manner of distribution; and the provision of the apparatus of the class described whereby an operator after loading a carrier may release the same after which it is automatically transported to the elevator, automatically elevated to the distributing means insuch a manner as not to interfere with the progress of carriers on the distributing means if such be present; and the provision of apparatus of this class which shall be entirely automatic in its distribution and prevention of interference. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter;

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. l is a side elevation illustrating the invention as a whole; I

Fig. 2 is a vertical detail section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of parts of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail showing elements at the base of an elevator, the view being taken at right angles to the lower part of Fig. 2 and from the right-hand side thereof;

Fig.5 is a wiring diagram;

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a cantilever supporting arm; and

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of'Fig. 6.

Simila rence characters indicate crrespending parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there are shown at numerals l tables about which shoe operators are seated at stations such as at points X, for example, said operators performing with or without machines or the like, operations in connection with the manufacture of shoes, such as, for example, the assembling of various'pieces to form uppers, liners or the like. These operators may be located upon a lower floor L. Y

Upon what may be an upper floor U ar tables 2 about which other shoe operators are seated at stations such as Y, for example, said operators also performing with or without machines or the like, operations in connection with the manufacture of shoes. The operators at 2 require to have material distributed to them from the operators at l, and it is the purpose of this invention to efiectively and efficiently make such a distribution between what may be distant points at different elevations.

It is to be understood that while the invention is shown as applied to a plurality of elevations of operators, it may be used on a single elevation where it is desired to relieve operators of the labor of lifting carriers or the like to be applied to automatic conveyor means.

The invention is carried out by arranging supports 3 on the floor U. The supports carry a pair of upper and lower rails 61, the latter functioning to support rolling carriages 69. The carriages 69 are gravitationally suspended from upper grooved wheels II, and are prevented from swinging inwardly by rollers 13 riding on the outer sides of the lower rail.

The carriages 69 are driven by means of an endless chain 15, passing over end sprockets l1, l1 and having attachments 19 with said car 49 riages 59. A source of power 8| and a speed reducer 83 with suitable driving connections 85 to the end sprocket 11 results in the chain I! being driven around a circuit, thus drawing the carriages around their circuit on the rails 01.

The rails 61 are not continuous at the ends. but are held together by means of straps 81 and 89. The function of supporting the carriages is transferred to the straps at the time of negotiating the said corners as set forth in said applications. This construction obviates the difliculty of causing the two grooved wheels such as H to traverse a relatively sharp turn in the upper rail,

" said traverse being effected with the supporting action of roller 13.

\ Each carriage 69 rotatably supports a cantilever member 9I adapted to hook in under the handles 93 of work baskets 95 (see Fig. 6). Each cantilever 9| is rotatably supported on an arm 91 and a spring 99 is adapted to hold up the cantilever 9I when unloaded but the spring 99 is not strong enough to hold the cantilever up when loaded with the basket 95. Under the latter condition, the cantilever 9| is held up by a catch II 10 pivoted to the carriage at I93 and normally held to catch a lug I05 on the cantilever 9| so as to hold up the cantilever. The normal holding action of the catch IIII is effected by a spring I91.

In order to cause the catch II to release the cantilever 9| to cause the same to drop the basket 95, there is provided a bell crank I09 pivoted at III to the respective carriages 59. This bell crank has a connection II3 with the catch "II and has an extending tail portion II5 for purposes to be described.

At a point at which it is desired to separate a basket 95 from the cantilever 9|, there is provided a channel chute II1 having an upper level portion H3, a sloping portion H9 and a lower level portion of rest, I2I. The upperportion of the chute H1 is adapted to receive the baskets 95 and in order to drop the baskets from the cantilever 9|, an arm I23 is provided above the chute II1, said arm having thereon a rotatable sleeve I25. At one end of the sleeve is attached a follower lever I21. At the other end of the sleeve I25 is attached a releasing lever I29, the lever I29 being adapted to be rotated by means of the \sleeve I25 under the rotating action of the lever I21, that is to say, both the levers I21 and I29 rotate together with the sleeve I25.

A spring I3I reacting from a fixed arm I33 (Fig. 7) serves to draw an arm I35 attached to said sleeve I25 against a stop I31.

The purpose of the arm I21 is to be contacted by a selector pin I placed selectively in one of a plurality of openings I39 in the handle of the basket 95, so that counterclockwise rotation of the arm I21 may be effected (Fig. '7), and thus similar rotation of the releasing arm I29. The arm I29 contacts the tail piece II5 to rotate the bell crank I09 so as to cause said catch I III to drop the cantilever 9| and hence release the basket 95 (see Fig. '7). The basket is released at a point such that its center of gravity is beyond the upper level portion 8 of the chute H1 and on the sloping portion I I9, thus causing the basket to descend to the lower level I2 I.

After the basket has been dropped, the cantilever 9| returns under the action of the spring 99 and inasmuch as the carriage 59 has moved on to a point beyond the depressed arm I29, said arm I29 having also returned because of the descent of the selector pin I4I, the cantilever 9| 60 raises and the catch IIII is caused by means ofq the spring I91 to support the same for the next application of a basket 95.

As above forecast, there is provision on the bail of each basket 95 of a series of recesses I39 into anyone of which the distributing operator may selectively place the selector pin I, said pin being that which strikes the follower lever I21. It will be understood that the pins I4| flt snugly into the recesses I39, and are removable therefrom.

7 Furthermore, each sleeve I25 while fixedly carry-.

ing its arm- I21 after adjustment, adjustably carries said arm, said arm I21 having a hub I43 which is held to the sleeve I25 by a set screw I45. Upon loosening the set screw I45, the hub may 15 he slipped along the sleeve I25 so new set the arm I21 where desired, referring to lateral positioning.

Thus, each operator located at the base of the chute II1 has his lever I21 afiusted in lateral position so as to be engaged by a pin I4I when said pin is set in a particular recess I39. The result is that any distributing operator, by selectively placing a pin I 4| on a given basket, may select the station at which the basket shall drop off. Having dropped off at the stop, the basket descends the respective chute I I1 to the operator at I2I. Any desired number of the knock-off mechanisms may be installed so as to distribute as desired the baskets holding work.

The above matters are described herein for the purpose of making clear the remainder of the invention, said matters above havingbeen previously described in detail in said patent application of Myron 0. Frost and myself, Serial No. 642,915, filed November 16, 1932, for Distribution system for shoe factories.

The improvement herein includes the arrangement of new elevator means having certain interlocking arrangements not heretofore known, whereby, if the system is on a single floor the reaching of operators in placing baskets or carriers is avoided; or, in the more important application of the system to a plurality of floors, the operators who apply the basket may be on one floor and have them elevated to become-attached to the conveyor means onanother floor, from whence said baskets are distributed to operators on said other floor.

To the above end, the operators at tables I on the lower floor L are provided with an adjacent inclined roller way, gravity chute 5 upon which the operators set their baskets 95 after having properly positioned the respective pin I4 I.

For receiving the baskets at the lower end I of said chute 5, I provide parallel lateral guides 9 having rollers II mounted between them with guards I3, the baskets 95 running from the end 1 of the chute 5 and upon said rollers II. The guards I3 prevent the corners of baskets from jamming between rollers.

In order to stop the baskets 95, I pivot upon the guides 9 a pair of arms I5 normally held in a counterclockwise position (Fig. 4) by means of a spring I1 so that an oppositely located bar stop I9 on the arms I5 is held up to its intersecting position with respect to the oncoming basket 95. Thus, normally, each basket is held in the position shown in Fig. 4, successive baskets piling up behind.

The purpose of the above stop arrangement is to withhold the baskets 95 from an elevator 2| until said elevator is ready to receive a basket. The elevator 2| comprises an L-shaped support 23 movable between vertical angle iron supports 25 and having lateral rollers 21 engaging the front and rear of said support 25 for purposes of guiding.

The elevator 2| has a lower platform 29 to which are rigidly attached vertical studs 3| bearing cross members 33 upon which the respective basket 95 rests when being elevated.

A movable bottom 35 having cross rollers 31 is slotted as at 39 and has holes 40 to be guided by said bars 33 and studs 3| respectively. As indicated by the arrows 4| in Fig. 4 and also by Fig. 2, when the elevator 2| descends, the movable bottom 35 contacts with an angle iron 43 and The rolls 31 are thus forced up into a position above the descendant cross bars'33 ready for a basket 95 to roll upon them from the rollers II as soon as the bar stop I9 is removed.

' The bar stop I9 is removed by contact of the bottom 29 of the elevator with fingers 41 of said arms I5, thereby depressing the bar stop I9 and freeing the basket 95 for gravitational movement 'from the left-hand position shown in Fig. 4 to the position on the rollers 31 shown in Fig, 2. Inasmuch as the stop' 45 is adjusted to a higher position than the stop '43, the rollers 31 .are upon a slope substantially in line with the rollers l I.

When a basket is positioned on the elevator in a depressed position 01 the latter, no other baskets can be positioned thereon, because they are held back successively, one against the other. When the elevator rises, the bar stop I9 springs up to prevent advance of any subsequent basket into the space unoccupied by the elevator.

A switch A, the wiring of which is shown in 5, is mounted upon a basket stop plate 48 and has an arm 49 which is contacted by a basket when the same comes into position on the elevator. Contact causes said arm 49 to swing clockwise (Fig. 4). An intemalspring return in the switch sends the arm 49 counterclockwise whenever there is no basket on the elevator, or when the elevator has risen with a basket thereon. Such return springs are known and further details thereof are superfluous.

From the above it will be seeri that whenever there are baskets 95 at the lower end 1 of the chute and on the rollers II, and the elevator 2| has descended, the elevator will be automatically loaded with a basket and the switch A will be set into a clockwise position which is its temporary closed position (see also dotted lines, Fig. 5.)

Another switch operated by the elevator 2I is shown in Fig. 2 and lettered B, the same being rotated clockwise when the elevator is depressed (Fig. 2) and the same being spring returned when the elevator rises. Switch B is temporarily held open when the elevator is down and closed when the elevator rises (see also Fig. 5). It will be referred to hereinafter as a lower limit switch.

Adjacent to the guides for the elevator is a tube 5| for receiving a counterweight 53 on the end of a lifting chain 55, the latter passing over a sprocket 51 and downwardly to a point of attachment 59 with, the elevator 2|. The sprocket 51 is driven from a gear reducing mechanism 5|, the latter being drivenby a motor 53 with which is associated a solenoid brake 65.

Thus the elevator 1| is adapted to move upwardly into juxtaposition to the rails 61, so that the basket 95 thereon will have its handle 93 positioned for application to one of the moving cantilevers 9| as the latter approaches the basket.

In order to stop the elevator in the proper. position there is arranged near the upper endof the guides 25 a switch 0 which temporarily opens when it is contacted by the elevator 2| and otherwise springs shut. It stops the elevator after the elevator has risen. Normally it is closed to determine elevator rise. It is referred to hereinafter as the upper limit switch.

Three other, coordinated switches D, E and F are used. All have spring returns. Switches D and F arecontacted momentarily by the carriag'es I! or parts associated therewith such as by arms 91, and switch E is contacted momentarily by the handle 95 of any'basket or a carriage approaching from the left.

-Switch E when contacted by'a' basket handle will be temporarily opened, the switch being otherwise normally closed. It opens before switch D closes and closes after switch D reopens.

Switch D is'adapted when contacted with by the conveyor carriages 59 temporarily to close and automatically opens thereafter; and switch F likewise but at a later period.

In Fig. 5 is shown a wiring diagram. This diagram shows the motor 53 wired to a line I41 through a reversing switch I49. Contactors I5I and I53 of the reversing switch are under contrpl of solenoids I55 and I51, respectively. The solenoid brake 65 is of the class adapted to brake the motor by the action of a spring 4 whenever current to said motoris turned oil? and to release the motor whenever current to the motor is turned on. Energizing solenoid 8 draws brake II) to release position against the action of spring 4. Solenoid brakes per se of this class are known. The wiring of the switches A, B, C, D, E and F in connection with the reversing switches is clear from Fig. 5. The dotted line positions are temporary positions; the solid lines indicate permanent spring-returned positions.

Normally switch D is open, E is closed, B is open (elevator depressed), F is open, A is open (elevator depressed and no basket thereon), C is closed. If no basket 95 is on rollers II, the switch A remains open but if one is available, operation of the trip 41 causes it to slide into place on the elevator, thus closing the switch A. Just previous to this condition, the element I5I of the reversing switch I49 has been closed to operate the motor 65 to take down the elevator The elevator upon descent has opened switch B as above set forth, thereby deenergizing solenoid I55 so that the reversing element I5I of the switch I49 will spring open, thus to stop energization of the motor when the elevator reaches the end of its downward travel. Thus the elevator is depressed and stops, switch B opening and switch A ordinarily closing due to advance of a basket onto the elevator.

If a, basket happens to be on an arm 9| and approaching the elevator (an unlikely event, but which may occur due to error such as by failing to place a pin I4I thereon) it first opens switch E which is normally closed, thereby assuring an open motor circuit which might otherwise cause raising of the now depressed elevator 2|. This motorcircuit for raising the elevator is now open because when switch E is open, the solenoid I51 is deenergized and switch element I59 springs to its open position. Solenoid I51 when energized holds shut the switch element I53 against spring action. Thus the solenoid I51, being deenergized, the switch element I53 will automatically open and no current can flow to the motor through said switch element I53. Switch element I53 is responsible for the motor revolving in a direction to elevate the elevator. Next, the respective carriage cantilever 9| having the basket in question thereon contacts with the arm of switch D to close it. Switch D is in series with now open switch E. The closed switch D cannot energize coil I55 because switch E is open. Switch E remains open until switch D again closes. As soon as the basket and arm have passed the switches D and E, the switch E springs.

shut again and the switch D springs open and therefore the above conditions are still maintained; that is, the elevator does not rise, even though loaded. Hence no basket carrier on the elevator interferes with any basket carrier traveling across the elevator path and located on a cantilever 9|.

If no basket is on a cantilever 9| as the carriage 9| passes, the switch E will not be afiected but switch D will be temporarily closed by said arm and current can pass through closed switches D and E which are in series and also through switch A which is presumably closed due to the elevator 2| having been depressed and a basket having been automatically loaded thereon. It will be seen that the circuit will be open at switch A if no basket is in position to be elevated and thus under unloaded conditions the elevator will not rise. But with switches E, A and D shut, the solenoid I51 isplaced in circuit and energized to close the switch element I53, thus energizing the motor to cause the elevator to rise (if a basket is thereon which has closed switch A). Switch B closes and switch A opens as the elevator rises.

As switch A opens the element I53 itself. through relay contact I54 provides the closed circuit through switches C to the other side of the line which causes the elevation to continue. Thus the elevator rises with the basket thereon, switch element I53 being held closed by the solenoid I51 until switch C is contacted by the elevator itself. Contacting of the switch 0 results in the opening of the same and hence the deenergization of the solenoid I5I, opening of element I53 and cessation in the rise of the elevator.

The above action places a basket carried on the elevator ahead of the advancing arm 9| which picks up the basket and removes it from the elevator. The arm 9| in so doing strikes switch F and closes it whereby the solenoid I 55 is placed across the line to draw closed-the reversing element I5I of the reversing switch so as to return opening of lower limit switch B stops the elevator to complete the cycle.

The term elevator herein is to be construed to apply to any means for transferring carriers, such as the baskets from supply points such as S to a run R of moving distributing carriages, whether or not the point S is above, below, or level with the run R.

It is to be understood that the elevator is exemplary and that more elevators may be used to deliver basket carriers 95 to the run of carriages 69 and it is to be understood also that as many release points may be used as are desirable. Also, as many operators may feed the point of gathering of the basket carriers at the base of the elevator as may be desired over as many conveyor chutes as may be desirable.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in-carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In combination, movable carriages, an elevator adapted to place work carriers'in the path of said carriages, said carriages automatically removing said carriers from said elevator when properly positioned, a reserve supply means for carriers the same being fed by operators, means for automatically loading said elevator from said supply means, means for automatically elevating the elevator in response only to the advance toward said point of an empty carriage and to loading of the elevator from the reserve supply means, releasing means positioned along the path of the movable carriages, and selector means applicable by the operators to the carriers and cooperative with predetermined ones of said releasing means to determine release from carriages of the respective carriers.

2. In combination, a plurality of continuously operating'carriages moving in a determined path, release means positioned along said path, an elevator adapted to place work carriers in the path of said carriages, said carriages when empty automatically removing said carriers from said elevator when properly positioned, a reserve supply means for carriers adapted to be fed by operators, means for automatically loading said elevator at said supply means, means for automatically elevating the elevator only when loaded, meansfor preventing said automatic elevation when the carriage which would normally receive the carrier abnormally has a carrier thereon, and selector means applicable to the carriers themselves bythe operators prior to positioning in said reserve supply means, said selector means being cooperative with predetermined release means to cause detachment of the carriers from their respective carriages at predetermined points.

3. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, means for holding carriers at a supply region, the carriers having means thereon for selectively receiving selector pins, releasing devices respectively engageable by respective ones of said pins, a reserve supply chute for delivering carriers from operators to said supply region, an elevator adjacent said supply region, said elevator being adapted to receive a carrier whenever it is at the end of its travel adjacent the supply region and when the elevator is otherwise unloaded, at least one continuously moving carriage moving along a line spaced from said supply region and passing said releasing devices, said releasing devices being adapted to be engaged by predetermined ones of said selector pins, means whereby when said carriage reaches a predetermined point the elevator is energized to move the respective carrier thereon toward the carriage, and means for preventing said movement when a carrier is abnormally on the approaching carriage due to misplacement or nonplacement of a releasing device.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a continuously moving run of carriages, carriers applicable to the carriages and having movable selector pins thereon, trip means cooperating with said selector pins predeterminately located at various stations along the run and adapted to effect selective release of certain carriers from the carriages, an elevator moving toward the run of carriages, means for automatically loading said elevator, means for automatically causing the same to travel toward the run with a load thereon, and means on the carriages for removing carriers from the elevator, said removing means also functioning as a discharge means in association with said trip means.

5. In apparatus of the class described in combination, means for holding successive carriers at a supply region, the carriers having means thereon for selectively receiving selector pins, releasing -tripdevices respectively engageable by respective ones of said selector pins, a supply chute for holding carriers and delivering the same successively to said supply region, an elevator adjacent said supply region, said elevator being adapted to receive a carrier from the supply region whenever the elevator is at the end of its travel adjacent said supply region and unloaded, at least one moving carriage moving along a line spaced from said supply region and passing said releasing trip devices, said releasing trip devices being adapted to be engaged by predetermined selector pins, means whereby when said carriage reaches a predetermined point the elevator is energized to move the respective carrier thereon toward the respective carriage, the carriage subsequently removing the carrier from said elevator, means for preventing said elevator movement when loaded and when a carrier is abnormally on the approaching carriage, and means preventing movement of the elevator to- Ward the carriage under any conditions when the elevator is unloaded.

6. In a conveyor system the combination with a plurality of continuously moving carriages, of an elevator adapted to place work carriers at a point in the path of the carriages, from which point the carriers are removed by the carriages, means for automatically feeding carriers to the elevator at a loading position out of the path of the carriages, means set into operation by each carriage as it approaches said point for causing the elevator to advance from the loading position and place a carrier at that point and means set into operation by each carriage as it leaves that point after removing the carrier for causing the elevator to return to the loading position.

7. In a conveyor system the combination with a plurality of continuously moving carriages, of an elevator adapted to place work carriers at a point in the path of the carriages, fromwhich point the carriers are removed by the carriages, means for automatically feeding carriers to the elevator at a loading position out of the path of the carriages, means set into operation coniointly by each carriage as it approaches said point and by each carrier fed to the elevator for causing the elevator to advance from the loading position and place each carrier at that point for removal by the carriage acting conjointly therewith, and means set into operation by each carriage as it leaves that point after removing the carrier for causing the elevator to return to the loading position.

8. In a conveyor system the combination with a plurality of continuously moving carriages, of an elevator adapted to place work carriers at a point in the path of the carriages, from which point the carriers are removed by the carriages, means for automatically feeding carriers to the elevator at a loading position out of the path of the carriages, means set into operation conjointly by each carriage as it approaches said point and by each carrier fed to the elevator for causing the elevator to advance from the loading position and place each carrier at that point for removal by the carriage acting conjointly therewith, and means set into operation by the elevator and by each carriage as it leaves that point after removing the carrier for causing the elevator to return to the loading position.

PETER MA'I'ILER. 

